Bumper element



Dec. 20, 1966 L. E. RUSSELL BUMPER ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.14, 1962 m m w u/w/s 6. Russia BY w Dec. 20, 1966 RUSSELL 3,292,566

BUMPER ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1962 IN VEN TOR. Lnvus1120:5541.

ilm w w ,qrroewtr United States Patent 3,292,566 BUMPER ELEMENT Linus E.Russell, Springfield Ohio, assignor to Peters & Russell, Inc.,Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No.226,765 12 Claims. (Cl. 114-219) The instant case is acontinuation-in-part of an application by the same applicant, Serial No.817,296, filed June 1, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates to novel air bumpers having particular utility inthe marine art. However, while so described, it should be obvious fromthe following that their application is not so limited.

The art of providing bumpers or fenders for marine use is very old. Mostbumpers or fenders have limited application, are quite heavy, hard tohandle and difficult to rig. Moreover, they generally need constantattention. They are easily damaged, subject to mildew. and requireconsiderable storage space. A further objectionable feature of prior artbumpers is their tendency to create weird noises when they ru'b againsta boat or dock surface.

The present invention is particularly directed to eliminate theundesirable characteristics of prior art bumpers above described.Further, it provides effective and utilitarian air bumpers of a naturenot heretofore contemplated which may be quickly and easily rigged on asingle line. These bumpers, in a preferred form, are centrifugally castto be of seamless construction. Their construction is such as to lendthem superior strength while enabling them to retain the necessaryresilience to safely accommodate impact. A preferred embodiment of theinvention provides air bumpers, as described, which incorporate meansexternally thereof to keep them from riding up and down in anunrestricted fashion when a boat moves against a wall or is goingthrough locks.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improvements in fendersor bumpers rendering them economical to fabricate, more eflicient andsatisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications andunlikely to require any great amount of maintenance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bumper unit which canbe more simply and more effectively rigged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bumper unit which can bequicldy and easily rigged on a single line.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved airbumper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seamless air bumperwhich is extremely light in weight and will not mush, leak, rip,discolor or mildew.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a boat bumper theentire surface of which is capable of serving as a protective medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple boat bumper whicheliminates the need for cheeks, grommets or rope loops, thereby enablingreduction of its size and cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a versatile plasticbumper structure which will not squeak.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel bumper unitof high impact capacity which is internally strengthened and capable ofbeing simply rigged by a single line and stored in a minimum of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bumper whichis equivalent in strength and capacity to a conventional bumper orconsiderably larger size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel "ice annular boatbumper wherein the wall defining its inner periphery is formed by atubular portion which is relatively inflexible in comparison to the wallportion thereof defining its outer periphery.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bumper structurepossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view which willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction,the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation ashereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ortheir equivalents.

Referring to the drawings, wherein a preferred but not necessarily theonly form of embodiment of the invention is shown,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air bumper in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the bumper of FIG. 1, thevalve section thereof being shown in FIG. 2A in an enlarged fragmentaryview;

FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 1 rigged for stowing;

FIG. 4 shows one application of the bumper of FIG. 1, bumpers beingshown in a rigged condition;

FIG. 5 shows a further application of the bumper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a preferred rigging of the bumper;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a preferred modification of thedevice of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the device of FIG. 7.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The bumper 1 illustrated has an annular form and is preferablyfabricated of an extremely tough and elastic non-squeaking, plasticcompound.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bumper 1 includes atubular outer wall section 2 and a tubular inner wall section '3. Thewall sections 2 and 3 are coextensive and in concentric spaced relation.Formed integrally with and in bridging relation to the respectivelyadjacent ends of the sections 2 and 3 are annular end section 4 whichdefine a sealed annular chamber C thereby. Molded integrally in one endsection 4 is the conventional football type valve unit 5. Thisparticular type of valve is self sealing and leak proof even under shockof extreme impact. Air is introduced to the chamber C through the valve5 through the medium of a needle type inflation pump.

In fabricating the bumper 1 in a preferred manner, the tube providingits inner wall section 3 is formed first. This tube is formed to berelatively inflexible. The outer wall section 2 and the end sections 4are then centrifugally cast about the tube. In this process, the endsections 4 are bonded to the respective ends of the tubular section 3 ina manner to form flared expansions to either end of the passage 6therethrough. The bumper so formed is completely seamless, therebyavoiding any localized vulnerability to rupture. By forming the section3 to be relative 1y inflexible in comparison to the outer and end wallsof the bumper, the entire bumper structure is provided with an innercore of significant strength which lends it a substantial resistance todeformation and rupture on impact. In the casting procedure, cleats 7are formed to project from either end of the bumper, in diametricallyopposed relation and equally spaced to opposite sides of the passage 6there-through.

Fluid may be introduced to the chamber C through the valve 5 to providea tubular column of air therein under a predetermined pressure to suitthe bumper application.

On threading a single line in the form of a suspension cord or cable 9through the passage 6 in the bumper 1, the invention provides a uniquefender assembly. A bumper so assembled becomes a resilient squeak freeroller unit which may freely rotate on its single line suspension means.As may be seen in the application of FIG. 6 of the drawings, the singleline may be suitably knotted to fix the relative position of the rollerthereon.

FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings show various means of utilizing theinvention structure in the marine art. In each case a single bumper or aplurality of bumpers are threaded on the single line which forms thesuspension medium. As indicated previously, the single line may besimply knotted to one or both sides of the bumpers thereon and therebylimit their axial movement, if such is desired.

FIG. 3 of the drawings indicates how simply the line 9 may be wrappedabout the bumper 1 from end to end and between the projections 7 whichdefine stowing cleats. This lengthwise disposal of the line enables acompact stowage of the bumper and eliminates the problems of loose ortrailing ropes prevalent in the handling of prior art bumper or fenderdevices.

The bumper unit thus provided is extremely light in weight and compactin nature. Every inch of its exterior surface is available and functionsas an impact absorbing medium. It has obvious advantages in use. Sinceits effective suspension requires only a single line through the passage6, the bumper 1 eliminates the need for customary cheeks and grommetsprovided in conventional bumpers. The invention bumper need never betied on in the manner of conventional units. Rather, a line is passedall the way through the passage 6 and the bumper may be simplypositioned by knots formed in the line to either end thereof. Moreover,the invention bumpers may be slid freely on such a line to any positionthat serves the immediate purpose. The simplicity of the suspensionwhich its construction facilitates eliminates the need for actual fixingof the bumper to its suspension means and thereby prevents damage to thebumper when an undue strain is supplied to its suspension line.

It is further significant that the air bumper as provided is seamlessand incorporates a sealed column of air. This column of air is inencompassing relation to the relatively inflexible inner wall 3 to forma cushion thereabout and within the resilient external and end wallscast integral therewith. The resilient body thus established isrigidified and strengthened by the wall structure which forms its innercore. Such a unit yields under minimum applied weight yet is capable ofabsorbing terrific impact shock and recovering its originalconfiguration. The construction of the seamless bumper renders it highlyresistant to rupture and collapse, a feature enhanced by the simplicityand freedom of its mount to a suspension line.

No great amount of work is necessary in rigging or maintaining thebumper apparatus of the invention. As is obvious, the single suspensioncable can be easily and quickly rigged to suit any application. The useof plastic avoids the problems of discoloration and mildew existing withcommercial bumpers. Every inch of the external surface of the bumper isworking surface, as distinguished from the conventional bumper, and itaffords maximum protection for minimum size. As noted, the roller mountof the bumper structure is of definite importance. It enables a bumperunit having minimum frictional resistance to applied loads, therebyinsuring a long life therefor.

It should be readily apparent to those versed in the art that a uniquestructure is thus provided which can be applied to a variety of uses ina variety of ways.

FIGS. 7 and 8 of the'drawings illustrate a modification of the device ofFIGS. 1 and 2 which is particularly significant for use on boats whichgo through locks, where the water level is going up and down. Thismodification of the invention provides a bumper 1' having a form as thebumper 1 previously described save that when the outer wall 2' and endwalls 4 of this modification are centrifugally cast on the inner tube 3,the outer wall 2' is formed to have external parallel ribs 10 whichextend from adjacent one end wall to points adjacent the other. In theexample illustrated the ribs are spaced circumferentially, 30 apart.These ribs have a significant function in the application of the bumperstructure as a protective medium on a boat going through locks. Themerit of the ribs 10 is that they tend to cause the bumpers 'to hug theboat and keep the bumper units from riding up and down the sides of aboat too readily when the boat is going through looks or mov ing againsta wall. This insures, a more complete. continuous protection for a boatstructure under such circumstances and does not detract from thecapabilities of the bumper to turn on a single suspension line and to besimply and readily rigged through the medium thereof.

A feature of the invention embodiment which should be carefully observedis the fact that the relative freedom of the bumper structures withreference to the suspension line makes it practically impossible forstress on the line to rip the bumper, even under the most extremeconditions. Further, the use of the single threaded line in conjunctionwith the bumper as described enables that the bumper can be hunghorizontally, vertically, and in com-. bination on a single line withoutnecessity for any particular manipulation or re-tying of the suspensionline relative the bumper structure.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the inven-. tion is not limited to thespecific features shown, but that the means and construction hereindisclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bumper including, a tubular relatively flexible outer wall sectionof elastic material, a tubular inner wall section of elastic material,said inner wall section being per se relatively inflexible in comparisonto said outer wall section and arranged concentric thereto andsubstantially coextensive therewith, means connecting said wall sections.at opposite ends thereof formed integral therewith and defining ahollow seamless annular body thereby hav ing a passage therethroughdefined by said inner wall section which lends strength thereto, anddiametrically positioned stowing cleats formed integral with therespectively opposite ends of said hollow annular body and projectedoppositely therefrom.

2. A bumper including, a tubular relatively flexible outer wall sectionof elastic material, a tubular inner wall section of elastic material,said inner wall section being per se relatively inflexible in comparisonto said outer wall section, arranged generally concentric with the outerwall section and substantially coextensive therewith, and meansconnecting said wall sections at opposite ends thereof forming a 'hollowannular body having a passage therethrough defined by said inner wallsection which lends strength thereto. 7

3. A fender comprising an essentially one-piece tubular casingconsisting essentially of a relatively stiff central tube of plasticmaterial, an outer casing of plastic material surrounding said tube,elongated in the direction of the length of said tube and bonded to saidtube at both ends thereof to form a closed annular chamber, said outercasing being more flexible than said central tube, and an air valvecarried in said casing and communieating with said chamber to permitinflation of said chamber, whereby said central tube provides a passageway through said tube for receiving a securing line, resists thetendency of said casing to shorten along the axis of said tube underinflation pressure, and stiffens said fender against bending in adirection transverse to the length thereof.

4. A bumper consisting of concentrically spaced Walls of resilientmaterial, means formed integral with and connecting said walls to definea sealed chamber therebetween, the inner of said Walls being formed tobe relatively inflexible in comparison to the outer and providing meansfor free passage of a suspension line therethrough for said bumper torotate thereon and valve means integrated in said body to supply andmaintain fluid in said sealed chamber at a selective pressure level.

5. A roller type bumper comprising an inflatable hollow flexible casingof synthetic plastic, a relatively inflexible central tube of similarplastic material within and bonded to said casing and extending thelength thereof for resisting distortion of said bumper and forming anaxial passageway through the bumper for receiving a securing line, saidcasing and tube forming an annular chamber in said bumper.

6. A bumper or the like including, a tubular relatively flexible outerwall section, a tubular relatively inflexible inner wall section,concentric with the outer wall section and substantially coextensivetherewith, means connecting said wall sections at opposite ends thereof,a hollow annular body being formed thereby having a passage therethroughdefined by said relatively inflexible inner wall section andcircumferentially spaced ribs projected from and oriented longitudinallyof said outer wall section.

7. A bumper including a tubular flexible outer wall section of anelastic material positioned, a tubular inner wall section of an elasticmaterial positioned concentric therewith said inner wall section havingthe physical characteristic of being inflexible in comparison to saidouter wall section, means connecting said Wall sections to either endforming a hollow tubular body having a passage therethrough defined bysaid relatively inflexible inner wall section, said body being resilientby virtue of its outer wall structure and rigidified by its inner Wallstructure, said inner wall defining an opening through said body forpassage of a line, the line providing means independent of said bodylimiting relative longitudinal motion thereof by engagement with saidrelatively inflexible inner wall structure.

8. A bumper including a tubular relatively flexible outer wall section,a tubular inner wall section, means connecting said wall sections atopposite ends thereof having diametrically positioned stowing cleatsformed integral therewith and projected oppositely therefrom, a hollowbody being formed thereby having a passage therethrough defined by saidinner wall section, and means formed integral with and projected fromsaid outer wall section arranged to inhibit an unrestricted verticaldisplacement of said bumper body when applied to the side of a boat orother wall type structure.

9. A bumper including, a tubular relatively flexible outer wall sectionof resilient material, a tubular inner Wall section of resilientmaterial having a lesser degree of flexibility than said outer Wallsection, means providing a seamless connection of said wall sections atopposite ends thereof to define a fluid chamber therebetween and meansdefining projections formed integral with and arranged to extendlongitudinally of the outer of said wall sections operating to inducethe bumper to hug the relatively adjacent surface to which it mounts.

10. A bumper including a tubular relatively flexible outer wall section,a tubular inner wall section, means connecting said Wall sections atopposite ends to define a fluid chamber therebetween, means definingcircumferentially spaced projections formed integral with and extendinglongitudinally of the outer of said wall sections and operating toinduce the bumper to hug the adjacent surface to which it mounts and theinner of said wall sections being resilient but relatively inflexible.

11. Bumper apparatus including a single suspension line, seamlesstubular means of an elastic material formed to provide an integralstructure encompassing a fluid column which is rotatable thereon, theouter surface thereof being relatively flexible and the inner surfacethereof being relatively inflexible.

12. Bumper apparatus including, a seamless tubular means of elasticmaterial, the inner surface of which is relatively inflexible to provideit with a strengthening core and the outer surface of which is resilientand includes means projected peripherally and longitudinally thereof forinducing said means to hug the surface adjacent to which it mounts andsuspension means for said tubular means providing for rotation of saidtubular means thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,017 2/ 1915Kidder 24285.1 1,877,793 9/1932 Beynon 114219 2,381,394 8/1945 Beach9--8 2,903,990 9/1959 Brown 114219 2,908,141 10/1959 Marsh 114-0.52,965,407 12/1960 Meisen l14-219 3,000,021 9/ 1961 Lang 114-2193,063,400 11/ 1962 Yamaguchi 114219 FOREIGN PATENTS 226,101 12/1924Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

EMILE PAUL, FERGUR S. MIDDLETON, Examiners.

D. NOON, B. BELKIN, Assistant Examiners.

1. A BUMPER INCLUDING, A TUBULAR RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE OUTER WALL SECTIONOF ELASTIC MATERIAL, A TUBULAR INNER WALL SECTION OF ELASTIC MATERIAL,SAID INNER WALL SECTION BEING PER SE RELATIVELY INFLEXIBLE IN COMPARISONTO SAID OUTER WALL SECTION AND ARRANGED CONCENTRIC THERETO ANDSUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, MEANS CONNECTING SAID WALL SECTIONSAT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF FORMED INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND DEFINING A HOLLOWSEAMLESS ANNULAR BODY THEREBY HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH DEFINED BYSAID INNER WALL SECTION WHICH LENDS STRENGTH THERETO, AND DIAMETRICALLYPOSITIONED STOWING CLEATS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH THE RESPECTIVELY OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID HOLLOW ANNULAR BODY AND PROJECTED OPPOSITELY THEREFROM.